OF THE CRIMEA.
495
low country is marfhy, and covered with tall flags; and thediftance from Olefhki to Kherfon amounts to eighteen verfts.
Kherfon, founded under the glorious reign of the EmprefsCatharine, fince the peace of 1774, is fituated upon an elevateddry piain, on the right bank of the Dniepr: it commands aview of the broad rufhy fen. When the wind blows fromthat quarter, it receives a confiderable portion of perniciousair during the fummer. The town confifts of the fortrefs; themilitary fuburb fituated above it; and of the city, inhabitedby burghers; and which is built upon a gently rifing piain,farther down the river. Within the fort ftands the principalchurch, which is a beautiful edifice: at a fhort diftance from itis the obelifk ere&ed to the memory of the Prince of Wirtem-berg, of General Müller-Sakomelfki, and of Korfakof, Generalof Engineers. In the church itfelf are depofited the remainsof Prince Potemkin. The citadel alfo contains the arfenal,the admiralty-wharf, and the houfe of the Commandant.The lower town is regularly planned, and embellifhed withtwo churches; befide which, a beautiful new one was buildingat the time of my vifit. Between the lower town and thefortification, there is an extenfive efplanade, planted withtrees, which have not perceptibly increafed in fize during thelaft ten years. Among the inconveniences, to which this townis expofed, I mall only notice the dirt prevailing in the winter,and the infupportable duft, clouds of which are wafted aboutin every direclion, during the fummer; not to mention theinnumerable fwarms of gnats, that infeft it from the marines.The total want of wood is fupplied by beams of good pine-
deal,